105 Facts About Prince Edward Island That Will Make You Want To Go

Prince Edward Island is approximately 140 mi (225 km) long and is Canada’s smallest province, in terms of length as well as population.

Consisting of two cities, Charlottetown and Summerside, the island welcomes around one million visitors every year. It has 33 golf courses and about 23 beaches.

Taken as a part of Atlantic Canada, Prince Edward Island is connected with the rest of the country through the Confederation Bridge. This Atlantic Island is situated off Canada’s eastern coast in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Charlottetown, the island’s capital city is small but its culture is diverse and radiates an energetic spirit.

There are several activities you and your family can undertake to make the fullest of your trip to Prince Edward Island and also houses good places to stay during your visit here. Several festivals are celebrated here throughout the year, especially Christmas.

When the Confederation Bridge was opened in the year 1997, it became the world's longest bridge. The length of the bridge is 8 mi (12.8 km) and it takes around 12 minutes to cross the bridge present on the main island.

The largest city of Charlestown is located on the north shore of the main island is the capital of Prince Edward Island.

Here are some fun facts regarding the smallest Canadian Province which became a separate colony of Great Britain in 1769. After reading about the island's landscape and its ocean coves, also check Arctic Ocean islands and Christmas Island facts. 

Fun Facts About Prince Edward Island

Did you know that the Mi'kmaq were the foremost inhabitants of the island and they gave the place their name- Epekwitk which means ‘something laying on the water’.

Other than this, there have also been several names for the place such as Île Saint-Jean, St. John’s Island, and The Birthplace of Confederation. The residents of the islanders are called Islanders. To add to that, the island is often referred to as 'Gentle Island'.

Also, remember reading the famed book called Anne of Green Gables? Its author, Lucy Maude Montgomery birthplace is Prince Edward Island. Further, the musical Anne of Green Gables was for the first ever, played in 1965, at the Confederation Centre for the Arts.

So this raises the question, how did the island acquire its present name? The island began to be called ‘Prince Edward Island’ in 1799 to honor Edward, Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria’s father.

As for its capital city, Charlottetown acquired its name after the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte. Potatoes are loved here, about 36,017 ha (89,000 ac) of potatoes were grown in the year 2018.

The provincial flower is The Lady’s Slipper and blue jay, the provincial bird. Lobster is the favorite of the islanders, so much so that there is a lobster season that occurs twice a year.

Here’s the best part, the place celebrates its pride festival in July every year where people from all backgrounds become a part of it and enjoy the dance parties, BBQ, and drag shows. This pride parade takes place in Charlottetown as well as in one of its villages called Victoria-by-the Sea.

This place seriously radiates positive energy, how can anyone miss it! The time zone is Atlantic.

The majority of the population resides in a rural setting and 43% of the population lives in urban areas. Agriculture is the most practiced field on the island, then tourism and fishing.

Further, the Island is diverse and supportive of people from all backgrounds which is evident by the election of Canada's first premier of Lebanese descent, Joseph Ghiz and also Catherine Cellback became Canada's first woman premier. To add to that, the island was Canada’s first province to have banned single-use plastic.

Spectacular, right? Further, the Confederation Bridge situated on the Island is Canada's longest bridge and also the world’s longest in the category of bridges over ice-covered water.

It is also considered a particularly popular and suitable place for immigration. The cost of living is reasonable and not expensive.

Historical Facts About Prince Edward Island

This is where Canada was born! In the year 1864, a cadre held its meeting in Charlottetown to ponder upon the idea of joining the three maritime domains, some also suggested the formation of a whole country, which turned into a reality in 1864, and Canada was born.

The first inhabitants of the island were Mi’kmaq people, followed by Europeans, who traversed through the island in the 16th century and established there in 1720. The place is widely renowned for its rich heritage and culture.

While forming their colony on the small island, they called the place,  Île Saint-Jean. Further, the island saw a rush of Acadian migrants in 1710, especially in present-day Nova Scotia.

Later on, the year 1758 saw the advent of British control, who overthrew the French after the  Ile Saint-Jean Campaign. The British expelled the Acadians out of the island, this incident is also called the Great Upheaval or the Deportation of the Acadians.

This was also when the island was renamed St. John Island in 1769. Then in 1798, the island began to be called what it is today, Prince Edward Island, after Prince Edward Augustus, the fourth son of King George III and later Queen Victoria’s father.

The famed and notable Charlottetown Conference took place in September 1864, wherein, talks on the Canadian Confederation took place that resulted in the formation of Canada. Prince Edward Island did not favor the decision and saw it fit to stay as a British colony. Later, on July 1, 1873, the island entered the Canadian Confederation.

Today, because of the conference, Prince Edward Island is seen as the confederation’s birthplace.

Geographical Facts About Prince Edward Island

The Island is surrounded by appealing and bewitching hills, forests, and beaches. It is lodged off the east coast of Canada in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The island is huddled with the Atlantic Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, and Labrador.

Prince Edward Island is approximately 140 mi (225 km) long and is Canada’s smallest province, in terms of length as well as population-wise. The Confederation Trail is 170.6 mi (273 km) long and is best explored by foot, though other modes such as cycling and also wheelchairs are permitted.

The lowest temperature ever recorded here was way back in 1884, 37.2°C (-35°F).

Consisting of two cities, Charlottetown and Summerside, the island welcomes around one million visitors every year. It has 33 golf courses and about 90 sand beaches.

Also called the ‘Garden of the Gulf’, the Island is arcadian and pastoral, with red podzolic soil due to high iron content which oxidizes when exposed to air and white sand. The island boasts of a capital city, Charlottetown, two citified towns- Cornwall and Stratford with suburban regions.

The most exorbitant point of the island is Springton in Queens County.

Facts About Prince Edward Island's Beaches

There are 23 beaches on the island which is a pretty good number considering the island’s size. This is your one-stop destination if you are a beach lover.

Be it and sand or surf, you will find your type here. The best part? All beaches are in close proximity to all residences. Some of its beaches like The Singing Beach have the warmest water in the north of Florida.

The beaches here are full of life and vibrant. You will find many things to do on the beaches such as surfing, sailing and more. But don’t worry if you are one of those people who just want to come and relax, there is plenty of calmness and serenity on the island’s beaches too.

Some of the most amazing beaches on the Island are Cavendish Beach, Greenwich Beach, Brackley Beach, Cedar Dunes, The Singing Sands, Jacques Cartier Provincial Park, Off Cousins Shore Road, Stanhope Beach, and Cap-Egmont to Mont Carmel.

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